Method of Playing a &#39;Live Casino&#39; Game of Chance, Playing Cards Tableau and Gaming-Cloth

ABSTRACT

A ‘Live-Casino’ game of chance uses one or several complete game decks of shuffled playing cards. A complete game deck shall contain 1, 2, 3 or 4 suits of playing cards. At the same time, the 4-13 playing cards of a complete suit shall be differentiated from each other in one playing card characteristic of a particular group of characteristics of the playing card symbols. This group of characteristics shall be the group of characteristics of the playing card symbols in the case of 4-13 playing cards or the group of characteristics of the playing card suit symbols in the case of 4 playing cards. The complete suits of a game deck shall respectively demonstrate playing cards that are identical in relation to the different playing card characteristics of the group of characteristics of the playing card symbols or the group of characteristics of the playing card suit symbols.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, of German application DE 10 2007 006 411.1, filed Feb. 5, 2007; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a method of playing a ‘Live-Casino’ game of chance, using one or more complete game decks of playing cards; the respective game deck contains 1, 2, 3 or 4 suits of playing cards. Here, each of the 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 playing cards of any complete suit will usually be differentiated from a particular group of characteristics, in at least one playing card characteristic, whereby this group of characteristics shall be the group of characteristics of the playing card symbols in the case of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 playing cards or the playing card suit symbols in the case of 4 playing cards. The complete suits of a game deck shall each exhibit playing cards that are identical with regard to the different playing card characteristics of the group of characteristics of the playing card symbols or the group of characteristics of the playing card color symbols.

At the same time, so-called standard card games, such as French hand, with 32, 40 or 52 playing cards in a complete deck of playing cards, are frequently used. Each of these playing cards possesses several, at least two, playing card characteristics; for example, the ‘Jack of Diamonds’ of a French hand (standard card game) possesses the ‘Diamond’ playing card characteristic from the group of characteristics of the playing card suit symbols and the ‘Jack’ playing card characteristic from the group of characteristics of the playing card symbols.

All the playing cards of a complete set of a suit, of 13 playing cards for example, are differentiated from each other in at least one playing card characteristic.

Usually, the playing card characteristics are allocated at least to the two groups of characteristics of playing card symbols, containing the ‘Ace’, ‘King’, ‘Queen’, ‘Jack’, ‘10’, ‘9’, ‘8’, ‘7’, ‘6’ and ‘5’, and the playing card suit symbols, containing the playing card characteristics of ‘Clubs’, ‘Spades’, ‘Hearts’ and ‘Diamonds’, in the case of a complete set of playing cards (deck) of 40 playing cards (French hand), which will have 4 complete suits of playing cards (as provided by the invention).

A complete deck of playing cards can also contain 52 playing cards, where the, ‘4’, ‘3’ and ‘2’ playing card symbols will then be found once, respectively per playing card suit symbol, i.e. in addition to the 40 playing cards specified above. Here, a complete suit will contain 13 playing cards.

For this reason, each playing card in a complete deck possesses several playing card characteristics, such as the playing card characteristics of the playing card suit symbol and the playing card symbol, which are necessary to be able to differentiate the playing cards for the game from each other according to function. Each playing card of a suit therefore differs from the other playing cards in the suit in at least one of playing card characteristics of the respective group of characteristics, in the case of the application of a standard card game.

Card games that are not standard card games, but show the necessary playing card characteristics in the sense of the invention, can also be applied.

This type of method of playing a ‘Live-Casino’ game of chance, particularly when using normal playing cards, is sufficiently known and is also used as a so-called ‘additional game’, whereby it can also be a main game.

Nevertheless, an interest in new games exists and is based in particular on the familiar playing cards or standard card games, for example a complete set of playing cards with 32, 40 or 52 playing cards and the usual four suits of playing cards. These games should have a simple playing structure, enable a relatively short playing time, i. e. a playing time from a minimum of approximately 15 to 60 seconds per playing round or up to a maximum of approximately 200 playing rounds per hour, and nevertheless have a high entertainment value.

Apart from this, it is increasingly of interest at the same time that this type and mode of the game (implementation of the method) can be played as a so-called ‘Live-Casino’ game, for example at a special gaming-table with a special gaming-cloth. Apart from this, it should be suitable to be played by Internet casinos, on gaming-machines and by use of multimedia devices, such as computers, mobile telephones, games consoles or similar devices. The game should be multimedia-capable or able to be used on a multimedia basis in principle. Apart from this, significant steps of the method, such as betting and the result of the draw, should be visible or capable of being displayed on a playing cards tableau.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method of playing a ‘Live-Casino’ game of chance, playing cards tableau and gaming-cloth.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method of playing a live-casino game of chance. The method includes providing at least one complete gaming deck of shuffled playing cards. The complete gaming deck containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 suits of playing cards. A complete suit containing 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 playing cards each being differentiated in one playing card characteristic of a particular group of characteristics with the particular group of characteristics for the complete suit being a group of characteristics of playing card symbols in a case of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 playing cards or the particular group of characteristics shall be playing cards suit symbols in the case of 4 playing cards in the complete gaming deck. The complete suits of the gaming deck respectively shall demonstrate playing cards that are identical in relation to the different playing card characteristics of the group of characteristics of the playing card symbols or the group of characteristics of the playing card suit symbols. In the invention, the following steps for playing take place in at least in one playing round:

-   -   a. the players or the player bet that at least one of the         following number of playing cards established by the draw will         possess the playing card characteristic of the group of         characteristics of the playing card symbols or the group of         characteristics of the playing card suit symbols corresponding         to the playing card characteristic that is the subject of the         bet;     -   b. the playing cards to be established will be established by         the draw and will be put down visible to the players or the         player or displayed; and     -   c. the respective player result of each player will be         established by the comparison of the playing card         characteristics of the playing cards established with the         playing card characteristic that is the subject of the bet, in         that the participant in the game will win in the case where the         playing cards established by the draw possess at least one         playing card characteristic corresponding to the playing card         characteristic or characteristics that are the subject of the         bet and the participant in the game will lose where none of the         playing cards established by the draw possesses such a playing         card characteristic corresponding to the playing card         characteristic that is the subject of the bet.

Apart from this, it is significant to the method of the invention that the ‘Live-Casino’ game of chance is played subject to the use of at least one complete deck of shuffled playing cards, where all the playing cards of a complete deck will be differentiated from each other in at least one playing card characteristic. At the same time, each complete deck will have at least four playing cards. Each of the playing cards will demonstrate the same number of playing card characteristics. It will be possible to allocate the playing card characteristics of a playing card to at least one group of characteristics. Apart from this, all the playing cards will form a pre-determined number of occurrences.

This game or method of play has a simple playing structure, enables a relatively short game length, i. e. a game length of a minimum of approximately 15 to 60 seconds per playing round or up to a maximum of approximately 200 playing rounds per hour, and demonstrates a high entertainment value.

A fast change-over of players is enabled by the short sequence of the playing rounds, so that they can use potential pauses between other main casino games, for example.

No high requirements of the understanding of the game or the ability to play, such as the necessary concentration, are made in the case of the players either, so that this game can also be played outside casinos and is suitable as a family game.

Of course, it is also possible in principle to play only one playing round, in order to enable a single intermediate game, for example.

A ‘Live-Casino’ game of chance, as provided by the invention, is a method for playing that is played in real time, i. e. live. It does not necessarily have to be played in a casino and subject to the use of playing cards that can be touched there, but it can also be realized by playing it on an appropriate gaming-machine.

As provided by the invention, the playing cards can both be taken in the hand (real playing cards), for example when playing with three-dimensional, playing cards that can be touched, or cannot be touched in three dimensions (animated playing cards). In the case of this type of play, the playing cards can also be animated optically or represented by a visual animation of the playing cards.

The use of a touch screen, where the animated playing cards are touched by tapping on them, is, for example, therefore an application as provided by the invention.

A game on a mobile gaming-console, a mobile telephone or other similar known multimedia devices that is suitable for loading and playing game software and can at least represent animated playing cards is also an application as provided by the invention.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method of playing a ‘Live-Casino’ game of chance, playing cards tableau and gaming-cloth, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The single FIGURE of the drawing is an illustration of a playing cards tableu for assisting in understanding a ‘Live-Casino’ game according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The explanation of the game is now described. One game technician, as a representative of the casino, will play against one or several players.

Several decks of cards of a so-called standard French deck of cards of 52 cards and the 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace playing card symbols are used.

The cards will be drawn from a shuffling machine (preferred), a card cradle or from the hand.

In this case, the group of characteristics relevant to the result of the play will be the group of characteristics of the playing card symbols; at the same time, the playing card characteristics of the group of characteristics of the playing card suit symbols will not be relevant.

Alternatively, it would be relevant in a different case that the playing card characteristics of the group of characteristics of the playing card suit symbols would be relevant, but not the group of characteristics of the playing card symbols, as provided by the invention.

All 13 playing card symbols (2 to Ace), with the associated inset field, will be found on the gaming-cloth or the playing cards tableau, where the symbol fields can be inset fields at the same time as shown in the FIGURE of the drawing.

The players will bet by placing their stakes on the inset fields, for example 7, on which the playing card symbol among the cards drawn, on which they have staked, is located.

How the game is played is now described. The game technician will draw 7 cards, one after the other, out of the endless shuffling machine and place them individually and visibly on the playing cards tableau of a gaming-cloth (see the FIGURE of the drawing), on the associated playing card symbols or on the inset fields, after the players have placed their stakes.

The stakes on these playing card symbols will win and will receive a single payment at the level of the stake, if the playing card symbol appears once, and the corresponding multiple payments at the level of the stake, if the playing card symbol appears several times.

The stakes on the playing card symbols that have not been drawn will lose and will be gathered in by the game technician.

After this, the cards that have been drawn will be put back into the shuffling machine and shuffled and the next game will begin.

EXAMPLE 1

The playing cards with the 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 playing card symbols are drawn.

The stakes bet on the inset fields with the 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 symbols win and receive a single payment at the level of the respective stake.

All the stakes bet on the inset fields with the 9, 10, J, Q, K, A symbols lose and these stakes are gathered in.

EXAMPLE 2

The playing cards with the 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7(2×) playing card symbols are drawn.

The stakes bet on the inset fields with the 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 win and receive a single payment at the level of the respective stake.

All the stakes bet on 7 win 2× and receive a double payment at the level of the respective stake.

All the stakes bet on the inset fields with the 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K and A symbols lose and the stakes are gathered in.

EXAMPLE 3

The playing cards with the 2, 3, 4(2×) and 5(3×) playing card symbols are drawn.

Stakes on 2 and 3 win and receive a single payment at the level of the respective stake.

Stakes on 4 win 2× and receive a double payment at the level of the respective stake.

Stakes on 5 win 3× and receive a payment 3 times the level of the respective stake.

All the stakes on 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K and A lose and the stakes are gathered in. 

1. A method of playing a live-casino game of chance, which comprises the steps of: providing at least one complete gaming deck of shuffled playing cards, the complete gaming deck containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 suits of playing cards, a complete suit containing 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 playing cards each being differentiated in one playing card characteristic of a particular group of characteristics with the particular group of characteristics for the complete suit being a group of characteristics of playing card symbols in a case of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 playing cards or the particular group of characteristics shall be playing cards suit symbols in the case of 4 playing cards in the complete gaming deck, the complete suits of the gaming deck respectively shall demonstrate playing cards that are identical in relation to the different playing card characteristics of the group of characteristics of the playing card symbols or the group of characteristics of the playing card suit symbols; betting, by at least one player, that at least one of a number of the playing cards subsequently established by drawing will have a particular playing card characteristic of the group of characteristics of the playing card symbols or the group of characteristics of the playing card suit symbols corresponding to the playing card characteristic that is a subject of a bet; establishing, the playing cards to be established, by one of a draw and put down and displayed visibly for the at least one player; and establishing a respective gaming result of each player by a comparison of the playing card characteristics of the playing cards established with the playing card characteristic that is a subject of the bet, in that the player in a game wins in a case that the playing cards established by drawing them possess at least one playing card characteristic corresponding to the playing card characteristic or characteristics that are the subject of the bet, and the participant in the game will lose in a case that none of the playing cards established by drawing them possesses a playing card characteristic corresponding to the playing card characteristic that is the subject of the bet.
 2. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises shuffling the playing cards before a start of each playing round, by one of an endless shuffling machine and by manual shuffling.
 3. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises the steps of playing several rounds of the game.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined number of playing cards established, that are established by drawing the playing cards, is
 7. 5. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises providing a playing cards tableau with several inset fields for playing the live-casino game of chance.
 6. The method according to claim 5, which further comprises making the bet by placing a game stake on at least one inset field of the playing cards tableau.
 7. The method according to claim 5, which further comprises disposing at least one special field for each of the playing card characteristics of one group of characteristics or for each of two groups of characteristics on the playing cards tableau resulting in a plurality of fields on the playing cards tableau.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the fields disposed on the playing cards tableau are visually differentiated from each other, and the fields carry one of the playing card symbols of the group of characteristics of playing card symbols.
 9. The method according to claim 5, wherein the playing cards tableau is disposed on a gaming-cloth for a placement of cards game.
 10. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises making the bet by marking at least one inset field of an electronically animated playing card tableau.
 11. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises playing the game with a defined number and selection of playing cards from a standard card game.
 12. The method according to claim 11, which further comprises selecting the standard card game from the group consisting of a French hand and a German hand.
 13. A playing cards tableau for carrying out a method for playing a live-casino game of chance, using at least one complete game deck of shuffled playing cards, the complete game deck containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 suits of playing cards, the complete suit containing 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 playing cards being differentiated from each other in at least one playing card characteristic of a group of characteristics with the group of characteristics being a group of characteristics of playing card symbols in a case of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 playing cards or the group of characteristics being playing card suit symbols in a case of 4 playing cards for a complete deck, the complete suits of a game deck shall respectively demonstrate playing cards that are identical in relation to different playing card characteristics of the group of characteristics of the playing card symbols or the group of characteristics of the playing card suit symbols, the playing cards tableau comprising: a separate field at least for each characteristic of the group of characteristics that is relevant to a game resulting in a plurality of fields, and results that have been bet on and those established are visible or can be displayed on the playing cards tableau.
 14. The playing cards tableau according to claim 13, wherein said fields contain partial fields showing the group of characteristics of playing card symbols, a number of said fields is equal to or larger than a number equivalent to a number of playing card characteristics that are allocated to the group of characteristics of playing card symbols.
 15. The playing cards tableau according to claim 13, wherein at least one part of said fields defining the playing cards tableau are for placing a gaming stake.
 16. The playing card tableau according to claim 13, wherein the playing cards being one of touched in three dimensions reflecting real playing cards and cannot be touched in three dimensions being animated playing cards.
 17. The playing cards tableau according to claim 13, further comprising a gaming-cloth containing said plurality of fields for receiving the playing cards.
 18. The playing cards tableau according to claim 14, wherein said fields defining the playing cards tableau are differentiated from each other visually, and said partial fields of the group of characteristics of playing card symbols shall each carry one of the symbols of the playing card symbols.
 19. The playing cards tableau according to claim 13, wherein the playing cards tableau is disposed or can be represented on one of a display, an optical display unit of a gaming-machine, a games console, a mobile telephone and a multimedia device.
 20. The playing cards tableau according to claim 19, wherein said multimedia device is a mobile end device.
 21. A gaming-cloth for a place card game, comprising: a cloth body; and the playing cards tableau according to claim 13 disposed on said cloth body. 